Finding Laila: Some Changes Are Necessary Part 34

"Been around lots of truckers, huh, Mom?" I raise a brow and watch her stifle a laugh.

"You know me," she shrugs.

"Does Dad know about your trucker fetish?"

"He didn't tell you that's how we met?"

"I give up," I laugh and stand up to get something to eat but she gives me a sly grin so I wait to see why.

"What?" she asks, maintaining her composure.

"You're the one looking at me all crazy-eyed, so you tell me," I say, mimicking her stance.

"Something came in the mail this morning." She smiles and slides a large envelope over to me.

If I was tired, it's gone now and replaced by the sudden rapid pounding in my chest. My hands are clammy and I feel too warm in my pajama shorts and tank. I look around to see if anyone else is up, but no one is. The entire future of my academic career is just inside this piece of paper, and as soon as I open it I'll know whether I got into my first choice.

"Should I stand here and watch or are you some sort of freakish teenager that can touch the thing and know what it says?" She smirks.

"I can't do this right now, not with everyone here," I say with a slight shake in my voice. "I have to wait."

"I don't," she answers, s.n.a.t.c.hing the paper from me.

"Mother, give it back," I say, louder than intended, and she laughs.

"You said you can't do it, but I can."

"So help me," I warn as I narrow my eyes and smile because I know she has no intention of opening it.

"So help you what?" Haden asks, catching us both by surprise.

Mom shoves the envelope behind her back, slips it onto the counter, and shrugs. "Oh you know how she is," Mom says. "Are you hungry, Haden?"

"I could eat," he says, taking a seat in the barstool I just vacated.

"Me, too," Joey says while stretching as he enters the kitchen.

"You kids have a seat and I'll get it together," Mom says.

I walk over to sit with the guys and slowly the rest of the crew enters and fills up the kitchen table. It's loud and there are at least three different conversations going on at once. Dad strolls into the room and grabs the pot of coffee and pours a gla.s.s but stops mid-pour and sets it down.

"Laila," he holds up the envelope, "what's this? You didn't open it yet?"

All eyes turn to me and heat stings my cheeks. I don't want an audience, but it appears I have one.

"No, I was going to wait." I smile an uneasy grin.

"What is it?" Braxton asks.

"It's a letter from Baylor," Mom says with controlled excitement. "She's scared to open it."

"Open it, Lai," Haden nods and smiles, encouraging me because he knows what this could mean for us.

I exhale loudly and take the envelope from Mom, and rip the opening back before pausing. Everyone looks at me and waits until Joey nudges my arm, prompting me to pull the piece of paper out.

Dear Laila, Congratulations! On behalf...

"I got in," I scream and jump up and down. "Mom, I got in!"

"I'm so proud of you," she says with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. She wraps me into her arms and hugs me, followed by my dad, who hugs both of us.

Dad's eyes are gla.s.sy, but he clears his throat and manages to hide the emotion. One by one, everyone hugs and congratulates me-everyone but Haden. He's still sitting in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest and a smug grin on his face. He finally stands up, walks over to me, and pulls me into a big hug.

"Congratulations." He smiles before he kisses my cheek. "I knew you'd get in."

"Thanks," I sigh, looking at the letter and reading the first word over again. "Now if we can just get your letter in."

"Actually," Joey punches him in the arm as he walks past, "someone already did."

Haden's eyes widen with shock and the two exchange a look that piques my interest.

"Are you serious? And you haven't said anything?"

"Maybe I didn't get in," he reasons.

"Yeah, he did." Joey nods his head.

"What?" I gape, not even trying to hide my shock. "Haden! When did you find out? Where did you get in?"

"I found out a couple of days ago," he admits while everyone watches us.

"So?" I ask.

"So, what?" He smiles, knowing that he's getting me worked up.

"Haden Searle, you better tell us where you got in," I demand. There were only a few places that he applied to, but I was never sure which was his first choice.

"TCU," he finally confesses. "I got into their Studio Art program."

"Do you know what this means?" I ask purely out of shock.

"That we'll be going to school less than two hours away from each other?" he says as if it's a question.

"No, it means that you and Braxton are going to school together," I tell him and watch his ego deflate a little before I finish. "And yes, we're only two hours away. Wow," I breathe out and look around at everyone wearing smiles of their own. "This is it, isn't it? Prom is over. All we have are finals and graduation."

"Don't get all mopey now," Cole pleads. He walks over and wraps an arm around me and squeezes tight. "You just found out that you got into your dream school. Can you be happy for at least another ten minutes? And don't mention finals again. Got it?"

"So I know where Scot already goes and where Laila, Haden, and Braxton got in," Dad says with a smile. "What about the rest of you?"

"I guess now's as good a time as any." Cole places his hands on the counter. "I had a hard time deciding, but I talked it over with my parents and they're not exactly thrilled."

"Are you going to Texas?" Joey asks in shock. The Camerons' are not Longhorns fans.

Ree looks at me and I can tell she's trying not to show her emotions, which makes me uneasy. I study everyone present, trying to see who may know what's going on, but we all have the same confused looks on our faces.

"Nah, they'd disown me if I did that," he laughs. "I'm actually going to The Citadel."

"You're doing what?" I ask. "You've never mentioned this before."

"It's something I've been thinking about for a while, and after talking with Mom and Dad, I think it's the best place for me."

"But you're not joining the military after-are you?" Bailey asks.

"That's the plan," he grins.

I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight, because for the first time I feel like I'm going to lose him. He hugs me back, but I look up and smile as best as I can through the tears clouding my eyes.

"When did you grow up?"

"I know. It's Joey's fault. He's been on my case about choosing a school." He nods at Joey. "Besides, you haven't heard where he's going, have you?"

"Thanks for that, man. Appreciate it," Joey coughs. "I got my letter a couple of days ago, too. I got into Columbia."

"Congratulations," Mom says with excitement. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks. Unfortunately, Bailey and I will be on opposite sides of the country."

She raises her hand and offers a timid smile. "UCLA."

"What about you, Ree?" I ask.

"Vanderbilt." She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes.

"Ree, that's so amazing." I hug her and she returns the embrace with a small one of her own. "You don't want to go, do you?"

She looks around, clearly uncomfortable with all eyes on her, but she answers anyway. "When my mom took off, it left just me and Dad. We had never had much of a relations.h.i.+p before, but her leaving forced us to try. If there was something good that came from her leaving, that was it-and now, just when things are good with us, I have to go?"

"So what are you gonna do?" Cole asks as he stands next to her.

"I didn't say anything to Dad, but I was looking at some colleges closer to home and I think I want to stick around."

"Will he be okay with that?" I ask.

"I hope so, because I already turned it down and I'm on a waiting list for Rice. I might have to do a junior college for a year, but I have the grades to get in."

"Sounds like you have it all figured out," I answer.

Bailey and Mom are reduced to 'how sweet' comments and drag Ree into hugs she doesn't seem to be interested in. Cole walks over to hug her and whispers something in her ear that makes her laugh before he gives her a sweet kiss.

Mom starts cooking and everyone does something to help out.

Thirty minutes later, biscuits, eggs, waffles, bacon, fresh fruit, sausages, and some sort of ca.s.serole are waiting in dishes to be eaten. Everyone grabs a plate and fills them up before finding any spot to sit down and eat. There are at least three different conversations taking place and I look at Mom and Dad, who are standing near the living room entrance with wistful looks. Mom winks at me and drags Dad out of the room, leaving me to resume my own conversation.

"d.a.m.n, Lai," Braxton announces as he gets up to fill his plate again. "This is some after-prom breakfast."

Haden leans over and whispers in my ear, "You disappointed we missed it?"

I look at everyone sitting here, completely oblivious to what happened last night, and shake my head. "I loved last night. I got to dance with you, hang with our friends, and now this-I think things worked out the way they were meant," I laugh.

"Road trip," Joey says through a mouthful of food. "When are we going?"

"First week in August," I answer. "Who's in?"

"I'm going with my dad to see my aunt, but maybe we can hang when I get back," Ree says.

"I'm out," Bailey says and I'm surprised because she really wanted to go. "I think this is one for the five of you. Besides, I'll be packing."

Joey leans over and tells her something, but she shakes her head in disagreement with a sweet smile on her face. She looks over and mouths "good luck" to me.

All I can do is laugh, because we're going to need it.

Chapter 29 ~ Finding Honors.

"Hey, I'm going to the quarry," I tell my parents, who are watching a movie with Luka.

"Don't be too long," Dad warns. "Big day tomorrow."

I nod my head and disappear through the front door, and make the short walk to my favorite spot. It's not quite dark out yet, but I have my flashlight with me in case I need it. The air is warm and sticky, but thankfully it's not too unbearable. I just really need some alone time to get my head sorted out.

Today has been a hectic day, with rehearsal, senior breakfast, and pretending that I'm going to miss my cla.s.smates. Tomorrow we graduate, and after that everything changes. Joey will be moving to New York and Cole will be in South Carolina-our crew is breaking up and there's nothing I can do to stop it from happening.

I make my way through the clearing but stop abruptly when I spot Joey sitting on the rocks alone. I clear my throat before calling out his name to get his attention, and he waves me over with a smile.

"I don't want to interrupt," I say, as I get closer.

"You're fine," he answers. "I was going over my speech."

"Oh! Can I hear it?" I sit next to him and try to peek over his shoulder.

"Nope, you'll hear it with everyone else," he says, moving the paper from my view.